Short Summary

The Shah of Iran, His Imperial Majesty Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Aryamehr, arrived at Islamabad Airport on Sunday (7 March) at the start of a five day official visit to Pakistan.

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The Shah of Iran, His Imperial Majesty Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Aryamehr, arrived at Islamabad Airport on Sunday (7 March) at the start of a five day official visit to Pakistan. During the tour he will have talks with the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The Shah and his wife, Her Imperial Majesty, Queen Farah Shahbanou, the Empress of Iran were greeted at the airport by Pakistan's President, Mr. Fazal Elahi Chaudhry and Mr. Bhutto before driving in to the capital. Along the route, welcoming crowds greeted the arrival of the Shah and Empress Farah.

Relations between Pakistan and Iran have always been close. In 1974 Iran agreed to loan Pakistan 580,000,000 U.S. dollars (GBP290,000,000 sterling) to help it carry out an industrial and social development programme. A joint ministerial economic commission has also been formed and a further 250,000,000 U.S. dollars (GBP125,000,000 sterling) has been made available by Iran to the Pakistan Government.

The Shah has also been trying to improve relations between India and Pakistan.

This is the first official visit by the Shah to Pakistan since Mr. Bhutto took office after the secession of Bangladesh in December 1971. However, the Iranian monarch has made three private trips to Pakistan in the last four years.

SYNOPSIS: Islamabad -- where the Shah f Iran, accompanied by his wife, the Emprere Farah, arrived on Sunday at the start of a five day official visit to Pakistan. They were greeted at the airport by Pakistan's President, Mr. Fazal Elahi Chaudhry and the Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Relations between pakistan and Iran have always been close. In 1974, Iran agreed to loan Pakistan 580,000 000 U.S. dollars (290,000 000 Sterling), to help it carry out an industrial and social development programme. The two countries have since set up a joint ministerial economic commission.

The Shah has also been trying to improve relations between Pakistan and India,
The Shah also wants to form an Asian Common Market. However, in this area his plans have met with opposition from both India and Afghanistan. This is the first official visit by the Shah to Pakistan since Mr. Bhutto took office.